The University of Sheffield has twinned with Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) in a bid to support students and staff affected by the war in Ukraine.
KPI is one of Ukraine’s largest and oldest universities, renowned for engineering teaching and research, however, its staff, students, and day-to-day operations have been significantly affected by the war.
In the first days of the invasion, fighting took place close to the university and even inside the campus. A large number of KPI students became soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, volunteers of territorial defence units, as well as volunteer organisations.
Sheffield is donating £20,000 to rebuild air raid shelters on KPI’s campus, providing access to essential equipment, and resources, and launching research collaborations and staff exchanges.
This follows the University’s pledge of £1 million to support students, scholars, and other staff who are seeking sanctuary in the UK or affected by war in their home countries.
KPI is internationally renowned for its outstanding teaching and research excellence in Engineering and is rated highly in Computer and Information Sciences. KPI is also listed in the QS World University rankings – one of only four Ukrainian universities in the prestigious league table.
However, the Russian invasion has had a huge impact on the university, its staff and students, and its day-to-day operations have been significantly disrupted by the conflict.
Since 24 February, 12 students have died as a result of the conflict. According to a latest survey more than 1,600 KPI students and more than 500 academics have now left Ukraine leaving many staff and students homeless.
The University said its offer was designed “To help KPI, its staff and students, survive in the short term and also thrive in the longer-term so they can help to rebuild their country following the invasion”.
The twinning agreement is part of a larger program set up by vice-chancellors’ body Universities UK International and run by the Cormack Consultancy Group, which has seen more than 70 UK universities taking part so far. They collectively aim to prevent ‘brain drain’ and ensure Ukraine’s universities sustain and emerge stronger from the war, allowing them to play a critical role in post-war reconstruction.
Sheffield is donating key IT and laboratory equipment, including high performance computers, that are essential for maintaining teaching and research in Kyiv and sharing its library facilities, enabling staff and students at KPI to access a vast range of online journals, texts and resources to support their field of study.
Dr Malcolm Butler, Director of Global Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “It’s essential that we help staff and students at Ukrainian universities with the short-term assistance they urgently need now, but also build long lasting ties through collaboration and exchange, so we can help them to rebuild their education system and their country once the war is over. We’ve already made good progress working together with our friends at KPI and we’re looking forward to developing this work further.”
Vice-rector for International Relations at KPI, Professor Sergii Sydoreno said: “The decision by the University of Sheffield to donate £20,000 for the reconstruction of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute air-raid shelters is not only humanitarian, but it also has a significant political dimension in the context of the incredible amount of Britain’s assistance to Ukraine in this war.”
In order to help the Ukrainian institution sustain post conflict, Sheffield is offering joint colloborations in 13 different workstreams by matching academics who work in similar or complementary fields to ensure that research can continue at KPI.
The University of Sheffield’s English Language Teaching Centre is helping staff and students at KPI learn English to help transition into the joint collaboration of academics. Additionally Sheffield Students’ Union (ranked number 1 in the UK by students) is supporting KPI’s Students’ Union to help ensure students needs and voices are heard.